CDMA Development Group Announces Support For IMT-2000 Family Of Systems Concept For Third Generation Wireless Systems

Wideband cdmaOne Plays Key Role in
New Third Generation Wireless Family Concept

LONDON, Oct. 29, 1997  At the First Annual CDMA
European Regional Congress in London, England, the CDMA Development
Group (CDG) today expressed support for the IMT-2000 Family
of Systems Concept for third generation wireless standards.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) proposed
the concept to establish commonality and facilitate global
roaming between the various third generation technologies
now emerging around the world.

At present, Asia, Europe, and North America are witnessing
the emergence of several different third generation standards.
Many of these standards are based on two major network platforms,
TIA EIA IS-41 with 79 million subscribers worldwide and GSM
MAP with over 55 million subscribers. The IMT-2000 family
of systems concept provides a model for integrating the emerging
regional groups for third generation wireless standards into
a seamless global network.

The family of systems concept outlines three requirements
of wireless standards now to be included in the family of
systems. First a "family member" must demonstrate
a clear migration path to converge with other third generation
systems. Second, the system must incorporate an air-interface
standard that is compliant with IMT-2000 requirements . Third,
the system must have a core network, such as IS-41 or GSM
MAP that can interface with other family member networks to
enable global roaming capabilities. This actually means all
core networks will eventually interwork to support global
roaming. By outlining the specification services that the
IMT-2000 systems must support, the family of systems concept
allows vendors and operators to continue to meet specific
market needs. At the same time, the concept will lead to convergence
and the achievement of global roaming capabilities.

"The CDMA Development Group fully supports the IMT-2000
family of systems concept," said Perry LaForge, executive
director for the CDG. "Given the emergence of various
third generation air-interface approaches, the family of systems
concept will allow us to achieve convergence and global roaming
goals as set forward by the ITU."

The CDG and its member companies have played an active role
in drafting and submitting contributions to the IMT-2000 family
of systems concept. The CDGs Advanced Systems Team has
contributed to the ITUs "Framework for IMT-2000
Networks" document. Also, the Advanced Systems Team is
participation in efforts by the ITU and Telecommunications
Industry Association (TIA) to develop IMT-2000 standards.